The Cunning Treasure Hunter

How much time had passed?

Darkness filled Vera's vision.

The sun had set.

Slowly, she sat up.

Someone was holding her hand, helping her rise.

"Th… Thank you…."

Before she could finish her sentence, a fit of coughing overtook her.

Cough. Cough. Her entire body shook violently with each breath, as if it were falling apart.

Only after several long moments did the convulsions subside.

"Stay still."

An unfamiliar voice.

She turned her head, her blurred vision picking up a faint glow—

A candle flickered nearby.

It was clear she was in a dark, enclosed space.

But she had lost consciousness at Everstone Clan—she had no idea where she was now.

"Who… are you?"

"Do not worry, Vera."

"…Ah.. Master…?"

It was only then that she recognized the voice of Great Master Thorne.

She also realized whose hand she was holding.

This withered, wrinkled hand—it belonged to him.

"Yes. You have awoken."

"How did I…?"

She found her answer in his touch.

There was no longer any formidable presence.

The strength she had always felt from him—

Gone.

The volume, the warmth, the feel of his grasp were the same…

But his hand no longer held the immeasurable power she had known.

"No… it can't be…."

"It is alright, Vera. It is alright. How do you feel?"

She lowered her gaze, silent.

This was a debt she could never repay.

She had believed that life only burdened one with unpayable grudges.

She had lived for the sole purpose of repaying even those grudges.

But now, she had received a grace she could never return.

How was she supposed to show gratitude for something like this?

"…Please, explain. I should have been…."

Her pupils trembled.

Great Master Thorne simply held her hand.

The explanation would come from Immortal Pharmacist.

"I will tell you, but you must promise never to speak of this to anyone. Understood?"

"Yes."

A technique that allowed one to sacrifice another's life force to restore Innate True energy?

If such a thing became known, countless people would seek to steal the forbidden knowledge.

Especially those of the Demonic Cult and unorthodox sects.

It was a forbidden technique—one Immortal Pharmacist had created in his youth but never dared to pass on.

Because the consequences were too dire.

What if the Demonic Cult or the unorthodox warriors started enslaving people and draining their life force to fuel their own power?@@novelbin@@

Even the orthodox martial artists would eventually be forced to resort to the same methods to compete.

The world would descend into chaos, morality wiped away in the pursuit of power.

This technique had only been revealed and used because of his deep trust in Great Master Thorne.

Even Jordan Akrest, despite his close relationship with them, had never been told of its existence.

"Very well. I trust you will keep this secret."

"…Thank you."

Vera clenched Great Master Thorne's hand.

No longer the hand of a mighty warrior—

But that of an old man.

A man who, in just a month's time, might no longer even be able to carry his own sword due to his weakening body.

"You, Thorn, has given you his Innate True energy and all his internal energy."

"…Ah."

She had expected it.

She had hoped against hope that it wasn't true.

But deep down, she had known.

She could no longer deny it.

Not just his internal energy—but his Innate True energy as well.

That was why everything suddenly made sense.

Why the Black Serpent had not commented on the stars in her mental world.

Why the Black dragon had swelled in size to such unprecedented proportions.

The absolute might of Suncrest Sword Saint Thorn had been infused into her body.

Moreover, since both of them had trained in Suncrest's martial arts, the efficiency of the energy transfer was even higher.

"At the very least, you have already reached the peak of Transcendence Realm. Your next task is to step into Kingdom of Harmony."

Great Master Thorne spoke with calm certainty.

Then, he gently placed his hand atop Vera's head.

"…I am sorry."

Those were the only words Vera could muster.

Not thank you—

But I'm sorry.

She had not simply been saved.

She had been given his entire life's worth of achievement.

"There is nothing to apologize for."

"But…."

"This was my decision, Vera. And if I had not seen potential in you, I would not have done it. I am not a man of boundless virtue or selflessness—I did this because I believe in you."

His voice was steady, free of regret.

Great Master Thorne let out a deep sigh, his gaze settling on Vera.

"You made a promise to Aiden—to kill the Lord of the Martial Unity, Sword Sovereign Zephyrion Akrest, correct?"

"…Yes."

"Would you make that same promise to me?"

There was no reason to ask twice.

And yet, Great Master Thorne still sought that assurance.

Vera nodded slowly.

"How could I refuse?"

"…Thank you."

But at this point, curiosity was inevitable.

She had sworn vengeance after watching her parents burn alive and burying their headless corpses.

Aiden had sworn vengeance after losing the woman he loved.

So what grudge did Great Master Thorne hold?

What had made him cast aside sixty years of cultivation, offering his very life and all he had built—

To place his hopes on a single blade of vengeance?

"…Why do you bear hatred for the Sword Sovereign?"

"…That is a long story. I will tell you once we return to Suncrest."

"…Understood."

Vera lowered her head.

Great Master Thorne patted her gently before pulling the blanket up to her chin.

"Rest a bit more. Your body is still recovering."

"But—"

"Sleep."

"…Yes."

Meanwhile, Jordan Akrest and Immortal Pharmacist were busy preparing.

And Great Master Thorne, now weakened after giving everything away, could no longer fight.

How could she close her eyes knowing that?

And yet, Great Master Thorne clearly wished for her to rest.

With a quiet nod, she shut her eyes.

Curling up under the blanket, she clutched it close to her chest.

Was it exhaustion?

Or was it the comforting presence of Great Master Thorne's lingering warmth?

Sleep came faster and deeper than she expected.

Three days had passed since Aiden had returned to Suncrest.

But there was still no sign of Great Master Thorne or Vera.

He could not simply send people to Celestial Sword Mountain to check.

That was the territory of the Celestial Sword Sect.

Seated in the yard of his worn-out house, Aiden gazed at the sky in silence.

Nearby, Marcus observed him, before turning his attention back to the disciples under his supervision.

"Ethan, just because Master is distracted, does that mean you can slack off?"

"The master should lead by example—Ouch!"

Marcus smacked Ethan's head with the hilt of his sword.

Only then did Ethan, rubbing his teary eyes, resume practice properly.

He mumbled something about how he could win in a fight if he really tried—

Marcus let it slide.

Dylan had mostly returned to her usual self.

A great deal of credit belonged to Jace.

They had been disciples under the same master for years.

No—

Even before entering Suncrest, they had been together, practically family.

Because of that, Dylan had reclaimed her bright, cheerful personality.

Which, in turn, made Jace's life more difficult.

Her usual antics had returned, making it harder to focus on intense training.

And Noah…

Somehow, he had ended up stuck between Dylan and Ethan.

No one knew exactly how or when it had happened—

But they had become incredibly close.

'Well, at least they're getting along.'

As Marcus watched the scene unfold with satisfaction—

Aiden remained still, staring at the drifting clouds.

With a quick glance at his master, Marcus gave a dry chuckle.

This was a good thing.

A good master worries about his disciples.

But if he drowns himself in worry, he fails to see—

That it is the disciples who will begin to worry for him.

'Vera… fought Dark Emperor, didn't she?'

But only Marcus knew the full story.

The others only believed Vera had taken a brief trip to Everstone Clan. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

That was why Marcus understood Aiden's troubled state.

In truth, even he was struggling to keep himself calm.

'What the hell happened…?'

Dark Emperor—

A mid-stage Kingdom of Harmony master, a legendary assassin once known as Dark Lord.

When he heard that Vera had burned through all her Innate True energy just to defeat him—

He had nearly lost control.

Had Aiden not restrained him, he would have rushed straight to Northern Lakes Province.

Only after hearing that Great Master Thorne had taken Vera to Immortal Pharmacist at Celestial Sword Mountain did he finally calm down.

But even then—

How could Innate True energy, once spent, ever be restored?

Neither Aiden nor Marcus could come up with an answer.

And then—

One of the Three Great Disciples came running toward them from the distance.

Bringing news of Vera and Great Master Thorne's return. end